Truss por shipping vehicles



E. D. VALENTINE.

TRUSS FOR SHIPPING VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, I917.

1,326,884. Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST D. VALENTINE, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

TR'USS FOR SHIPPING VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 30, 1919.

Application filed June 22, 1917. Serial No. 176,374.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST D. VALENTINE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Clark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trusses for Shipping Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to trusses particularly designed for use in connection with the shipment of motor vehicles.

The object of my invention is to provide a truss for supporting the front axle of a motor vehicle in a manner which will effectively support the vehicle during shipment; a further and more specific object being to provide a truss which can be firmly secured to the floor of the railway car and readily and quickly removed when the shipment has reached its destination and then returned to the factory for use again in connection with subsequent shipment of vehicles.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a front elevation of two of my improved trusses with an axle of a motor vehicle shown supported therein.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the trusses.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the same.

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of one of the feet of the truss.

Referring 'to the drawings, 1 and 2 represent the sides of the truss proper, which is of an A-shape, the respective sides being preferably connnected together by a central brace 3.

The apex of the truss proper is provided with upwardly extending lugs 4 forming a bifurcated portion and the lower ends of each of the sides 1 and 2 are provided with flat feet 5. Each foot is formed .with a series of vertically extending openings 6 and the under surface thereof is also providezd with two laterally extending recesses In preparing a vehicle for shipment, the vehicle is jacked up and the axle 10 thereof dropped into the bifurcated portion of the truss and the feet are 'then spiked to the floor of the railway car, the spikes being driven through the perforations 6. A wooden strip 11 may, if desired, be placed across the front portions of the feet, the spikes which are inserted through the central portions of the feet being driven through the Wooden strip; the strip being employed to more firmly brace the trusses in a lateral direction. After the axle has been dropped into position in the bifurcated portions 4, a bolt 8 is inserted through the bifurcated portion of each truss to more firmly hold the axle in position therein.

WVhen the shipment has reached its destination, the bolts 8 are removed, the vehicle jacked up so as to free the axle from the bifurcated portions of the trusses, and the trusses may then be removed by inserting a crow-bar in the recesses 7. The trusses may then be returned to the factory for future use. In the present structure the side portions 1 and 2 and brace 3 lugs l, and the feet are all formed integral of cast metal but the truss might be otherwise formed by riveting or otherwise securing the feet and bifurcated portions to the truss proper.

The apex of the truss at the lower end of the bifurcated portions 4 is extended laterally as at 9 so as to provide a greater surface for the axle 10 to rest upon-and it will be seen that the feet 7 are also extended laterally beyond the plane of the side portions 1 and 2 of the truss as well as forwardly and rearwardly therefrom to not only provide for a firm supporting base but also to permit the insertion of the spikes.

From the construction described it will be seen that a simple, economical and effective device is provided for firmly securing the motor Vehicle in position in a railway car for shipping purposes, the advantages of such an arrangement being appreciated when it is understood that with the old method of shipping motor vehicles it was necessary to block the wheels with heavy timber which not only became wasted at the end of the destination of the cars but also required considerable labor in not only blocking the cars at the point of shipment but also in removing the timbers at the end of the destination.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. In a structure of the character described, an A-shaped portion, an axle receiving extension at the apex thereof, feet at the lower end of each side thereof, said feet having spike receiving apertures and recesses on their lower surfaces, for the purpose specified.

2. In a structure of the character described, a pair of trusses each formed of an A-shape, an axle receiving extension at the apex of each truss; feet at the lower end or each side thereof, said feet having substantially flat projecting surfaces and spikereceiving apertures, and a cross-bar extending from one truss to another and arranged to be supported upon said flat surfaces wherebyv the spikes Will; fasten the feetto their supports and Will also fasten the bar to said feet, for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 10' my hand this 12th day of June, 1917.

- ERNEST D. VALENTINE. Witness:

CHAS. I. WELCH. 

